When Charles Darwin sailed through Patagonia back in the 1830s, he had to brave harsh winds, cramped cabins, and violent locals. When you follow his route in the Stella Australis, you’ll do so enjoying the latest in comfort and style.

That’s because the Stella Australis offers a perfect platform from which to observe the gauchos and glaciers of this wild, soul-stirring terrain. Built in 2010, the ship offers five decks from which to observe the ice floes, fjords, and Magellanic penguins that typify the Patagonian landscape, as well as the extreme beauty of destinations such as Wulaia Bay and Cape Horn. And with the Stella Australis’s fleet of rafts for on-shore excursions, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the wildlife and vegetation of this extreme region up close.

Cabins

The Stella Australis features 100 cabins capable of holding up to 210 passengers. Offering a choice of one double or two twin beds, the vessel sports B, A, AA, and AAA cabins to accommodate any size group. All cabins include private baths with full showers, large picture windows (floor-to-ceiling, in the case of AAA), desks and chairs, individual telephones, and comfortable bedding to keep you warm on cold Patagonia nights.

Common Areas

Each of the Stella Australis’s five decks contains common areas that allow you to make friends with other passengers and relax in luxury. Whether you opt for the leather banquettes and full-bodied Chilean wines of the Sky and Yamana lounges, or the up-to-date equipment in the Darwin Deck’s gym, you’ll feel at home amidst the attentive service of the ship’s crew. And when you get hungry after your trip on shore, the trained chefs in the ship’s galley can prepare a full range of international delicacies in the ship’s buffet-style dining room.